McAuliffe Named National Blue Ribbon School

McAuliffe Middle School in Los Alamitos was one of three Orange County schools awarded a national blue ribbon from U.S. Secretary of Education Arn Duncan Monday. 

The program honors schools that perform at a high level, showed great performance improvement or closed the achievement gap affecting disadvantaged and minority students.

A half-dozen schools in Los Angeles County were also selected. 

More than 300 campuses nationwide, including 23 in California, earned the national blue ribbon school designation for 2010-11. The Southland recipients are:

-- Joe A. Gonsalves Elementary, ABC Unified;

-- Baldwin Stocker Elementary, Arcadia Unified;

-- Arma J. Shull Elementary in San Dimas, Bonita Unified;

-- Anderson W. Clark Magnet High, Glendale Unified;

-- Clover Avenue Elementary, Los Angeles Unified;

-- Stevenson Ranch Elementary, Newhall School District;

-- Sunny Hills High, Fullerton Joint Union High School District;

-- Sharon Christa McAuliffe Middle School, Los Alamitos Unified; and

-- Fairhaven Elementary, Orange Unified.

"I congratulate these dedicated schools for receiving such a prestigious national honor," said state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, who nominated the schools earlier this year.

"This recognition was made possible by motivated teachers, administrators, and staff supported by involved parents who worked together to provide their students a firm foundation for a lifetime of learning," he said.

Blue ribbon schools will be honored Nov. 12-13 in Washington, D.C., where each winner will receive a plaque and flag, which may be flown at the campus as a mark of excellence.

In its 30-year history, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed the award on nearly 7,000 schools.

--City News Service